Wo Fat bring the buzz to Calgary's 420 Arts & amp; Music Festival

As a diehard Dallas Stars supporter, Wo Fat singer-guitarist and chief songwriter Kent Stump is certain that falling to a powerful Anaheim Ducks team is far better than missing the playoffs completely.

“We had a disappointing season,” he says of the once mighty Stars. “Lot’s of talent, but … lots of injuries, too.

“I’m not sure bringing (Ken) Hitchcock back is such a good idea, either. But, maybe a guy like him is what those young guys need. You guys have a young, talented team out there … Go Flames!”

Stump would have been at home talking hockey, classic Prog and Psyche bands and vinyl LPs all day with a Canadian, but the more pressing matter of Wo Fat’s maiden voyage to Canada as headliners for this weekend’s 420 Arts & Music Festival in Calgary would also require at least a portion of a very entertaining 20-minute telephone conversation.

Stump’s crushing Dallas-based power trio (also including drummer Michael Walter and new-ish bassist, Zack Busby) has been at, or near, the forefront of the doom, sludge, psychedelic and stoner rock movement since 2003.

It’s a sound of which owes at least as much to the trademark riffing of Tony Iommi as the “Sweet Leaf” which often inspired Black Sabbath (and, indeed, this weekend’s festival).

“The Sabbath thing is certainly a unifying thread as far as influence go,” Stump says. “Over the course of our career (six full-length albums and numerous split collaborations), in addition to the heavy riffs there is a lot of jazz, blues, Afro-Cuban and even funk influences.

“The sound has evolved into this over the years — it’s a very solid structure, but with enough freedom to move. With every record, we want to reach further than the last one.”

Those records include instant classics of the genre including Psychedelonaut (2009), The Conjuring (2014) and last year’s excellent Midnight Cometh.

Wo Fat is a true “studio band,” which is also one of the most exhilarating live bands in heavy music. Stump co-owns and operates Crystal Clear Sound (one of Dallas’ old recording studios) with Walter.

The day-to-day studio commitments only allows the band to pick and choose the live gigs they want most — often European festivals and short American tours several times per new Wo Fat release.

But the premise of this little festival in Western Canada was intriguing enough that the Dallas heavy-hitters will make its Canadian debut at Distortion Live Music Venue on Saturday night as the climax of the 420 Arts & Music Festival.

“We try and craft a set list that has a good flow and creates a sonic journey for people who come to see us,” Stump says of the Wo Fat live experience. “It has to build and be strong from beginning to end.

“We’re going to be playing a longer set in Calgary so we’re going to be playing some older songs and bringing some new elements to them live. Our new bass player (Busby) brings a whole new intensity to the live show and we’re still stoked to be playing older material with him.”

“We’re definitely looking forward to getting out there and meeting some new friends and music lovers.”

Wo Fat perform at Distortion Live Music Venue April 22 as part of the 420 Arts & Music Festival.

420 Festival passes and single night tickets available at Distortion and Sloth Records.

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